KiteBoarding Hatteras

Kite Boarding Hatteras

Due to the lack of wind in San Diego, we decided to spread our wings and explore our options. My subscription to "The KiteBoarder" came in handy in selecting Cape Hatteras to further our skills in this sport. KiteBoarding is without a doubt one of the most difficult sports I've tried so far. Add to that, the fact that you really only have one day of wind in San Diego per week, we had to go elsewhere if we ever wanted to learn to ride the board. Body dragging had lost it's appeal, and we were ready to fly. Endless miles of sand beaches, shallow warm water, steady winds (averaging 18mph year-round), and epic waves, combine to make Hatteras a one-stop Kite Boarding Mecca.

On April 29th, myself and Neal boarded a flight to Norfolk in North Carolina on our way to Cape Hatteras. We had a 20m, 16m, 12m, and a 9m Kite, as well as two boards between the two of us.

Oversize baggage and weight was an extra $80.00, daylight robbery if you ask me. We had to rent a minivan in order to fit all our gear and clothes. I actually liked that minivan, so much space.

Instead of living in an hotel, we opted for one of many vacation residents available for rent. We arrived at out Condo late that evening, went to bed in anticipation of some crazy KiteBoarding the next day.

Just by luck, "Kite Boarding Hatteras KBH" was within walking distance from our Condo. We signed up for some lessons and asked about the local spots.

Jay recommended that we try one of the "Three Dirt Roads", locally refered to as turnouts. Just little dirt roads off the main road that lead to the beach.

On the west side of the Outer Banks, is Pamlico Sound. As far as the eye can see, flat water, that is only waste deep. So if you fall, you just stand up, relaunch and off you go. Truly an amazing spot to learn.

Here's me on my 12m Cabrinha. It's amazing how much power that kite has when the wind is blowing.

And there I go, the first time I can really say that I felt I was Kite Boarding, what a feeling.

There is not much going on in Cape Hatteras besides Kite Boarding and Wind Surfing. After your session, you better get to a place that serves food fast, otherwise you go to bed hungry.

They do have some interesting names for the restuarants. Sign board read "Come get you crabs at Dirty Dicks".

Here is Neal ripping it up on his 9m Slingshot.

Image of a Kite parking lot, lines and kites everywhere.

On our second day, we went to the third turnout. All this time, the minivan behaved like a 4x4, but our luck was about to run out. We digged, pushed and struggled, but in the end I had to call a tow truck. Btw, that will cost you a $150.00, what a way to make a living.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest in the nation and a famous symbol of North Carolina. Apparrently, the engineer who was originally assigned to the task of painting the lighthouses, got the plans mixed up and the diamond-shaped figures, suitable for warning traffic away from the Diamond Shoals, went to Cape Lookout, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse received the spiral striping, thereby forever gaining the nickname "The Big Barber Pole".

We had a day with no wind. The plan was to go Scuba Diving when that happened, but no-one was diving. We were told that the vis was poor and the water was too cold. Guess they have not dived in Socal.

Anyway, on the way back from the Dive Shop, we spotted some hangilders at Rockey Ridge. We signed up for a lesson, and shortly after, we were ready to fly.

The feeling of flight is rather surreal, and only after the first time, does your brain have time to realize what just happened. Good thing they start you off on a small hill.

Finally, a map of Cape Hatteras. Just follow the 168 South and three hours later, you'll be in Avon. On the East side of the Outer Banks is the Atlantic ocean. That's where they do wave riding, but we are not ready for that yet. What an awesome trip, was definately worth it, but next year, will be in La Paz, Mexico.